Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 93541 — Lee Vining, CA

ZIP code 93541 (Lee Vining, Mono County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 93541 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostOct 9
2012 zone6b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lee Vining, CA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Lee Vining, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Lee Vining, CA — 6 miles away, elevation 6,798 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 93541

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Oct 9) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 93541 came on Mar 19 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Soil in Lee Vining, CA

The center of ZIP 93541 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 93541; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lee Vining, CA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,133base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall70 inper year; 64 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 2.66 in precipitation, 19 in snowfall 2.7❄19 JanFebruary: 2.71 in precipitation, 16.1 in snowfall 2.7❄16 FebMarch: 1.82 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 1.8❄12 MarApril: 0.70 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.7❄3 AprMay: 0.73 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.7❄2 MayJune: 0.41 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.4 JunJuly: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.83 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.8❄1 OctNovember: 1.44 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 1.4❄5 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 2.6❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lee Vining, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Lee Vining, CA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

935296a
June Lake, CA · 18 mi
935176a
Bridgeport, CA · 21 mi
953897a
Yosemite National Park, CA · 26 mi
935126b
Benton, CA · 29 mi
935466a
Mammoth Lakes, CA · 35 mi
894157a
Hawthorne, NV · 37 mi
961076b
Coleville, CA · 38 mi
961337a
Topaz, CA · 48 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 93541

What planting zone is ZIP code 93541?

ZIP code 93541 (Lee Vining, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Lee Vining, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93541 is May 23; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lee Vining station.

When is the first frost in Lee Vining, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93541 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93541?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93541 get?

About 15.1 inches of precipitation a year and 70 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lee Vining station).

How hot do summers get in Lee Vining, CA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Lee Vining, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93541 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lee Vining, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93541 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.